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Chapter XV: Goat Wrestling

Andrew sent Raven out to make sure that the Hunters were of their trail and slumped down next to Sonja. His legs felt like rubber and every inch of his body hurt. The last 24 hours had been brutal. He brushed her hair back away from her face.

“I suppose I should have asked you what direction the rest of the way is.” he muttered laughing to himself. “But, at least we’ve gotten this far. That’s something, right?”

He looked around at the trees and long branches that lay about and decided that it was entirely possible he could make the stretcher with his long shirt this time. There was a better selection of fallen limbs to work with. Standing up, he felt his muscles sing out in pain. He groaned with a quick gasp then started looking around the forest floor for branches that would be long enough.

It didn’t take much searching as Andrew found one that was perfect for his task within moments. He turned around to drag it back to where Sonja lay and paused as the utter beauty before him stunned his mind. The sun was gently reaching through the branches and leaves, sending its rays, scattering to the ground to dance around the place where Sonja lay. Her natural radiance amplified by the setting.


Raven landed on a nearby limb and cawed. “What are you staring at?”

“Each time I get used to how wonderful she looks, she surprises me by just getting better.”

Raven shook his little black head. “Sounds like you got a thing for your lady.”

“Yeah,” Andrew said as he pulled the branch. “Sounds like I do.”

“Well, the Hunters have taken the bait and went after the pony. Uh, why are you taking off your shirt? You are not going to try and make that stick contraption again are you?”

“I most certainly am,” Andrew replied as he threaded the pole through one of his sleeves. “It should work this time because we have a better selection of branches.”

“Maybe we should go try and steal another pony. The pony worked really well.”

“Well, I promised I wouldn’t do anything stupid.”

There was a rustling behind them and Andrew spun quickly raising up the branch with his shirt dangling from it in a ridiculous attempt at a defensive weapon.

“I would say that trying to fight us with a tree dressed in a shirt would be fairly stupid. You’d agree with that wouldn’t you Gaghar?”

The Goat replied, “Ha! I would, Conall. At least he could have also put some trousers on the tree. The poor branch is half naked.”

Andrew, used to being surprised by this point, was still stunned to find he was facing a laughing Goat and a grinning hulk of a man.


“Look,” he said, trying to sound as forceful as he could, “I don’t want any trouble, but you guys come any closer…”

Conall took a step forward and batted the branch away with a flick of his hand. “You look familiar, mush. Have we met before?”

The Goat reared up on its hind legs, “We don’t meet many Mushes, Conall.”

The large man looked Andrew over carefully and slowly. “No, we do not, but still you’d think he’d…” Conall abruptly stopped talking as he spotted Sonja. “Hey now, what have we here?” He reached out and grabbed Andrew around the neck and lifted him from the ground. “What’ve you done you her?”

Andrew tried to respond but Conall wasn’t letting much air escape from his throat. Fortunately Raven jumped in to help.

“That’s his Lady, you ox!” the bird shouted as he flapped his large black wings in Conall’s face.”

Gaghar rushed over to Sonja and took a close look at her. “She looks to have taken a beating.”

The large man flexed and Andrew found himself flying. He hit one of the large trees and heard something crack. As he tried to climb up to his feet, he was pretty the sound came from him and not the tree.

“You stay away from her, Goat!” Andrew lowered his shoulder and charged the goat. He quickly found himself turned upside down and on the ground.

“He really is stupid he thinks he can win a butting contest with me,” Gaghar said. “Would you do something about the squawking?”

Conall was waving his hands around trying to fend of Raven and his bothersome wings. “I’m giving it my best. Never was good at fighting birds.”

“I wish you would figure it out, cause I certainly can’t carry her.”

Andrew got himself upright and squared himself off again facing Gaghar.

“You are not taking her anywhere.”

This time as Gaghar lowered his head to send Andrew tumbling again, Andrew changed into his raven form and flew over the top of the goat, only to change back to human form. He jumped onto the goats back, grabbing the horns and pulling back.

Gaghar bleeted. “Akkkk, Conall, the mush has me!! The mush has me!!”

Andrew twisted the horns and forced Gaghar to the ground. “Not so tough when I got your horns, huh?”

Conall was still swinging at Raven. “Stupid, stupid bird!”

Raven just cawed and kept batting and pecking.

Gaghar tried to struggle free, but with Andrew holding his horns the goat was not going anywhere. “The Queen will hunt you forever if you hurt her.” Gaghar said.

“Hurt her?” Andrew replied. “I’ve been trying to help her. Her dad asked me to escort her to the Court.”

“Her dad? No one has seen or heard of from that rapparee in years. You’re lying, mush. Now let me go!”

But he found his horns twisted harder forcing his face into the soft damp forest ground.

“Gaghar,” Sonja’s voice lilted over to them. “He’s not lying and he’s my mush so I’d think about leaving him be.”

Andrew let go of the horns and stood back with Raven finding his perch on Andrew’s shoulder. Gaghar lept up to his hoofs and turned to face Sonja.

He and Conall bowed. “Our apologies, mistress. We thought he was up to nonsense.”

She nodded weakly. “He usually is, but it’s mostly harmless. Now, I’m going to rest a bit more. Figure out how you are going to help him delivery me to the Queen. I suppose I’ve kept her waiting long enough.”

“Yes, mistress,” they both chimed in unison.


Gaghar spun around with his toothy goat smile beaming. “Sorry about the trouble there, mush. Things just looked funny.”

Andrew poked at his side testing his ribs. “Well, everything seems okay.”

Conall stepped up and slapped his hands down on Andrew’s shoulders. “Perfect then,” the big man shouted. “We are friends now and the Queen won’t need to know otherwise.”

“And you are gonna help me get her to the court?”

Conall grinned. “ Absolutely, mush. Absolutely.”